I really hope Janus and Visnovsky are on the team for the West. Both have been fantastic in Slovan, deserving of an All-Star nod, IMO.

Definitely, but... like someone said, Višňovský is an "old guy" and a former NHL All Star, and playing in the KHL All Star Game would add little to his career achievements, unlike for Janus who is at the beginning of his career and the badge of a KHL All Star might give him a career boost. I'm perplexed by how the Tampa Bay Lightning have been treating their goaltender pipeline, especially because they had trouble in that position in recent NHL seasons.

I have the distinct impression that Višňovský hates excessive travel, especially to far-away Russian regions. He's the hard-working, but easy-going type who grew very fond of beach weather in LA/Anaheim during his career. Remember how unhappy he used to be with the Oilers, and I think the weather had a lot to do with it.

To sum up, I think Višňovský won't mind it one tiny little bit if he's not selected to travel to Chelyabinsk. Janus would be a worthy representative of Slovan on the Western All Star team.

you have to consider they all besides the elite over the top superstars like Malkin get bigger roles on the teams they are on. Applies to more than a half of your list. The play of the repective teams revolves around those players now.

Why not? NHL teams taken as a whole are better than KHL teams taken as a whole. One would have to be an extreme KHL fanboy to try and deny that.

Just because there never was a series of games the NHL fanboys think their league is just like that better. Still they have no facts to prove it. Give me a series played on both rink sizes, then we're talking business.

That call against Yemelin was laughable and the non-call on a play against Kapanen one minute before the end of the 3rd was just refs helping the home team. But that's OK. That's the bonus the home team often gets. Congrats to Slovan we can live with one point.

You're certainly unleashed in your assertions tonight, Atas. If you wish to talk about questionable referee decisions, what about the power-play donated to Ak Bars from which Morozov scored the 2nd goal? Trustworthy TV commentators said they in no way saw too many Slovan players on the ice. That's why coach Čada was so enraged by the call.

I agree that referees were imprecise tonight, but both sides suffered because of that. Ak Bars was clearly stronger than Slovan, but Slovan wasn't bad either, and they won. (Last night, Neftekhimik was weaker than Slovan but won. That's hockey.)

I thought this was a supremely exciting game, anything but boring, despite Slovan's "safety first" strategy. Many Ak Bars players gave great performances, but I think the best of them was Obukhov, not Morozov who got the best player award. Both goaltenders, Barulin and Janus, proved they should travel to the KHL All Star Game.

Whatever happens in the rest of the season, it certainly feels good for Slovan to sweep this year's season series against Ak Bars, defeating them both at home and on the road, although only after shootouts both times.

Vondrka has now converted 3 out of 3 shootout attempts in the last 3 games; several others, along with a couple of short-handed goals, in previous games. He used to be a specialist for important goals even back in his Slavia Prague days, and tonight's Forsbergesque masterpiece was the icing on the cake.

Vondrka has now converted 3 out of 3 shootout attempts in the last 3 games; several others, along with a couple of short-handed goals, in previous games. He used to be a specialist for important goals even back in his Slavia Prague days, and tonight's Forsbergesque masterpiece was the icing on the cake.

I was at the game tonight, and to be fair, the too many men call was legitimate, as one of the Slovan defencemen was VERY slow to get off the ice.

The length of time given for the review was ridiculous, although it was funny to see the Kazan fans giving it so big waving their arms like mad to say it was no goal, only to then get the whole section in front laughing at them.

And Vondrka.. what else is there to say. Although putting him at #3 is stupid IMO, like in yesterdays game, as he didn't get to take a penalty!

And Vondrka.. what else is there to say. Although putting him at #3 is stupid IMO, like in yesterdays game, as he didn't get to take a penalty!

I think it's OK to let him go third because he's excellent for "putting the nail in the coffin" of the opposing team. Janus was great in both games, but last night he criticized himself, saying "I shouldn't allow 2 shootout goals in 3 attempts", and he's right. In that sense, it's OK for Vondrka to go third.

You're certainly unleashed in your assertions tonight, Atas. If you wish to talk about questionable referee decisions, what about the power-play donated to Ak Bars from which Morozov scored the 2nd goal?

Just read the comment below your post and you get a picture of your objectivity.